Return of the Summer Craft Project Headache

Kate is out of school and days are filled with that voice, "What are we going to do today?" Gone are the days when parents could turn the kids loose outside and they would disappear for hours doing crazy things like ride in the back of a pick-up truck, swim without a lifeguard, and take the bus solo to the beach without a care in the world... "Come back when the sun goes down..."...nope..too much to worry about now. 40-something readers can relate...

Our first craft project this season is making tie dye shirts using RIT dye.. Remember that? So easy and fun..only for some reason, 30+ years after I did this as a child, I can't get it to work. I see a lot of people posting the same problems that I am having on the RIT forums... and I sent them an email for help..but I am wondering if any of my readers also have had this same issue...

We're making great patterns with rubber bands, using the "bucket" method...and even making a second attempt with the RIT Fixative.. following tutorials to a "T"..and color is bleeding into the whites of our designs. Super disappointing.. How do we keep our whites white? Anyone? Please let me know if you've tried it too!